Method of using a wrapping material having a pull tab and pull indicia for wrapping a floral arrangement

ABSTRACT

A method for both wrapping a floral arrangement and removing the wrapping material from the floral arrangement, comprising a sheet of material having a pull tab and pull indicia thereon, the pull tab sized to be easily graspable, a bonding material disposed on the sheet of material near the pull tab. A floral arrangement is utilized, the floral arrangement being wrapped in the sheet of material, the sheet of material being crimped about a portion of the floral arrangement.

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/093,838, filedJul. 19, 1993, entitled METHOD OF USING A WRAPPING MATERIAL HAVING APULL TAB AND PULL INDICIA FOR WRAPPING A FLORAL ARRANGEMENT, now U.S.Pat. No. 5,467,573; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No.07/963,882, filed Oct. 20, 1992, entitled WRAPPING MATERIAL HAVING APULL TAB AND PULLING INDICIA FOR WRAPPING A FLORAL ARRANGEMENT ANDMETHOD; now U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,803; which is a continuation-in-part ofU.S. Ser. No. 865,563, filed Apr. 9, 1992, entitled METHODS FOR WRAPPINGA FLORAL GROUPING, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,245,814; which is a continuationof U.S. Ser. No. 07/649,379, filed Jan. 31, 1991, entitled METHOD FORWRAPPING AN OBJECT WITH A MATERIAL HAVING PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVETHEREON, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,638; which is a continuation of U.S.Ser. No. 07/249,761, filed Sep. 26, 1988, entitled METHOD FOR WRAPPINGAN OBJECT WITH A MATERIAL HAVING PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE THEREON,now abandoned.

Said application Ser. No. 07/963,882 is also a continuation-in-part ofU.S. Ser. No. 07/893,586, filed Jun. 2, 1992, entitled WRAPPING A FLORALGROUPING WITH SHEETS HAVING ADHESIVE OR COHESIVE MATERIAL APPLIEDTHERETO, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,634; which is a continuation of U.S.Ser. No. 07/707,417, filed May 28, 1991, entitled WRAPPING A FLORALGROUPING WITH SHEETS HAVING ADHESIVE OR COHESIVE MATERIAL APPLIEDTHERETO, now abandoned; which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No.07/502,358, filed Mar. 29, 1990, entitled WRAPPING A FLORAL GROUPINGWITH SHEETS HAVING ADHESIVE OR COHESIVE MATERIAL APPLIED THERETO, nowabandoned; which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 07/391,463,filed Aug. 9, 1989, entitled ADHESIVE APPLICATOR DISPENSER, nowabandoned.

Said application Ser. No. 07/502,358 is also a continuation-in-part ofU.S. Ser. No. 07/249,761, filed Sep. 26, 1988, entitled METHOD FORWRAPPING AN OBJECT WITH A MATERIAL HAVING PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVETHEREON, now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to wrapping materials and, moreparticularly, to wrapping materials having a pull tab and pull indiciafor both wrapping a floral arrangement and removing the wrappingmaterial from a floral arrangement, and the method of using same.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the wrapping material of the presentinvention showing the upper surface, the wrapping material beingtransparent and having a bonding material extending along one side, apull tab and pull indicia being located immediately above the bondingmaterial.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the wrapping material of FIG. 1, butshowing the lower surface thereof.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the wrapping material of FIG. 1, butshowing a plurality of sheets comprising a pad.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the wrapping material of FIG. 1, butshowing a continuous roll of material comprising a plurality of sheetsof material contained within a roll in a dispenser.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the wrapping material of FIG. 1, butshowing a continuous roll of material comprising a plurality of sheetsof material contained within a roll.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the wrapping material of FIG. 3, butshowing a floral arrangement disposed thereon.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the wrapping material of FIG. 3, butshowing a partially wrapped floral arrangement.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the wrapping material of FIG. 3, butshowing a partially wrapped floral arrangement.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the wrapping material of FIG. 3, butshowing a wrapped floral arrangement.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the wrapped floral arrangement of FIG.9, but showing the floral arrangement partially unwrapped.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the wrapped floral arrangement of FIG.9, but showing the wrapping material unwrapping from around the floralarrangement.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a modified wrapping materialconstructed exactly like the wrapping material of FIGS. 1-2, but showinga non-transparent wrapping material with no pull indicia on the uppersurface of the sheet of material.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the wrapping material of FIG. 12, butshowing the pull indicia disposed on the lower surface of the sheet ofmaterial.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the wrapping material of FIG. 12, butshowing a wrapped floral arrangement, the pull indicia being readilyapparent.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the wrapped floral arrangement of FIG.14, but showing the floral arrangement partially unwrapped.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the wrapped floral arrangement of FIG.14, the wrapping material unwrapping from around the floral arrangement.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a modified wrapping materialconstructed exactly like the wrapping material of FIGS. 1-2, but showingthe pull indicia as symbols.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a modified wrapping materialconstructed exactly like the wrapping material of FIGS. 1-2, but showinga first pull tab and a second pull tab and corresponding first pullindicia and second pull indicia disposed thereon, the pull indiciarepresented as symbols.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a modified wrapping materialconstructed exactly like the wrapping material of FIGS. 1-2, but showingthe bonding material extending substantially along the length of oneside of the sheet of material, the pull indicia being located to eitherside of the bonding material.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a modified wrapping materialconstructed exactly like the wrapping material of FIGS. 1-2, but showingthe bonding material extending substantially along the length of oneside of the sheet of material, the pull tab and pull indicia beinglocated at the upper end of the bonding material, the bonding materialhaving less bonding at the site of the pull tab and pull indicia.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a modified wrapping materialconstructed exactly like the wrapping material of FIGS. 1-2, but showingthe sheet of material as a trapezoidal shape, one side having ascalloped design, the bonding material extending along the lower side ofthe sheet of material, the pull tab being disposed on an adjoining sideof the sheet of material comprising an extension of the sheet ofmaterial, the pull indicia being represented as a symbol disposed on thepull tab.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a modified wrapping materialconstructed exactly like the wrapping material of FIG. 21, but showingthe pull tab and pull indicia thereon as an extension located at thesame level as the bonding material.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the wrapping material of FIG. 22,showing a wrapped floral arrangement.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the wrapped floral arrangement of FIG.23, but showing the floral arrangement partially unwrapped.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the wrapped floral arrangement of FIG.23, but showing the wrapping material unwrapping from around the floralarrangement.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a wrapping material constructed exactlylike the wrapping material of FIG. 21.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the wrapping material of FIG. 26showing a wrapped floral arrangement, but showing the wrapper crimpednear the stem end of the floral arrangement.

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the wrapped floral arrangement, butshowing the wrapper crimped near the stem end of the floral arrangement,the crimped end being twisted about the stem end by being rotatedclockwise one-quarter turn.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the wrapped floral arrangement of FIG.27, but showing the wrapping material unwrapping from around the floralarrangement.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a wrapping material constructed exactlylike the wrapping material of FIG. 26, but showing the elongation of thepull tab, the pull tab having a bonding material partially disposedthereon.

FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the wrapping material of FIG. 30showing a wrapped floral arrangement, but showing the wrapper crimpednear the stem end of the floral arrangement, and showing the pull tabacting to both crimp the wrapping material and retaining the wrappingmaterial in the crimped condition.

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of the wrapped floral arrangement of FIG.31, but showing the wrapping material unwrapping from around the floralarrangement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Floral arrangements are usually wrapped in a wrapping material toprotect the delicate blooms and foliage from damage. And, the wrappingmaterial utilized frequently has some bonding material thereon, such asan adhesive or cohesive, so that the wrapping material retains itswrapped shape, and securely encompasses the floral arrangement in orderto protect it. This type of wrapping material, however, has itsdisadvantages.

A significant disadvantage occurs when the wrapping material is removedfrom the floral arrangement. Frequently, it is not obvious where thewrapping material begins or ends. When this occurs, the recipient of thefloral arrangement may become frustrated in looking for the edge of thewrapping material, and may, in a state of frustration, tear the wrappingmaterial away from the delicate floral arrangement, damaging the blooms,foliage, or both. A further disadvantage is that, even when it isobvious where the wrapping material begins and ends, it is difficult torelease the bonding material which holds the wrapping material about thefloral arrangement. The recipient may again inadvertently damage theblooms and/or foliage of the floral arrangement in his/her struggle tolift and release a portion of the bonded wrapping material from itself.As a result, again, damage to the floral arrangement is likely. Suchdamage interferes with the recipient's enjoyment of the beauty andvisual quality of the gift of a floral arrangement.

The present invention contemplates a wrapping material which has abonding material thereon (the bonding material being described in detailbelow) which enhances the ability to wrap a floral arrangement. Thepresent invention also contemplates a wrapping material which is readilyremoved, that is, a wrapping material which also has a pull tab and pullindicia which permits the edge of the wrapping material to beidentified, and which permits the bonding material to be more readilyreleased from the wrapping material, so that the wrapping material canbe quickly and easily removed from the floral arrangement withoutcausing damage to the delicate and fragile blooms and foliage. Thepresent invention also contemplates crimping of the wrapping near thestem end of a floral arrangement, that is, crimping the wrappingmaterial after it is rolled about a floral arrangement and formed into awrapping/wrapper. Either the bonding material, the pull tab, or both mayact to crimp the wrapping/wrapper about the stem end of the floralarrangement, and retain the wrapping/wrapper thereabout in a crimpedcondition.

The Embodiment of FIGS. 1-2

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, designated generally by the referencenumeral 10 is a wrapping material which is constructed in accordancewith the present invention. The wrapping material 10 comprises at leastone sheet of material 12. The sheet of material 12 has an upper surface14, a lower surface 16 (one edge of the sheet material lifted forillustration purposes only), and an outer periphery 18. The outerperiphery 18 of the sheet of material 12 further comprises a first side20, a second side 22, a third side 24, and a fourth side 26. The sheetof material 12 also has a pull tab 28 and pull indicia 30, which aredescribed in detail below.

The sheet of material 12 is utilized to wrap a floral arrangement 32."Floral arrangement" as used herein means cut fresh flowers, artificialflowers, other fresh and/or artificial plants or other floral materialsand may include other secondary plants and/or ornamentation which add tothe aesthetics of the overall floral arrangement 32. The floralarrangement 32 comprises a flower portion 34 which may comprise either abloom or a foliage portion, and the floral arrangement 32 also comprisesa stem portion 36. However, it will be appreciated that the floralarrangement 32 may consist of only a single bloom or only foliage (notshown). It will be understood that the term "floral grouping" is usedherein interchangeably with the term "floral arrangement."

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the sheet of material 12 is square. It willbe appreciated, however, that any shape or size of sheet of material 12may be used to wrap a floral arrangement 32 as long as it issufficiently sized and shaped to wrap and encompass the floralarrangement 32. For example, the sheet of material 12 may also compriseother geometric and non-geometric shapes. When multiple sheets ofmaterial 12 are used together, they may be connected together orlaminated, or may comprise separate layers. Finally, it will beappreciated that the sheet of material 12 shown in all embodimentsherein is substantially flat.

The sheet of material 12 may be constructed of a single sheet ofmaterial 12 or a plurality of sheets of material 12. Any thickness ofthe sheet of material 12 may be utilized in accordance with the presentinvention as long as the sheet of material 12 may be wrapped about afloral arrangement 32 and removed from the floral arrangement 32, asdescribed herein. Typically the sheet of material 12 has a thickness ina range of less than about 0.2 mils to about 30 mils. In one embodiment,the sheet of material 12 is constructed from one sheet of polymer filmhaving a thickness in a range of from less than about 0.5 mils to about2.5 mils. In an alternate embodiment, the sheet of material isconstructed from polymer film having a thickness in a range of from lessthan about 0.2 mils to about 10 mils.

The sheet of material 12 is constructed from any suitable material thatis capable of being wrapped about a floral arrangement 32. Preferably,the wrapping material 10 comprises paper (untreated or treated in anymanner), cellophane, foil, polymer film, fiber (woven or non-woven orsynthetic or natural), cloth (woven or non-woven or natural orsynthetic), burlap, or any combination thereof.

The term "polymer" as used herein means any polymer film. For example,but not by way of limitation, one polymer film is a polypropylene film.Another example of a polymer film, but not by way of limitation, iscellophane.

The sheet of material 12 may vary in color. Further, the sheet ofmaterial 12 may consist of designs which are printed, etched, and/orembossed; in addition, the sheet of material 12 may have variouscolorings, coatings, flockings, and/or metallic finishes, or becharacterized totally or partially by pearlescent, translucent,transparent, iridescent, or the like characteristics. Each of theabove-named characteristics may occur alone or in combination. Moreover,each surface of the sheet of material 12 may vary in the combination ofsuch characteristics.

The sheet of material 12 has a width 38 (FIG. 1) extending generallybetween the first side 20 and the second side 22, respectively,sufficiently sized whereby the sheet of material 12 can be wrapped aboutand substantially surrounded and compass a floral arrangement 32. Thesheet of material 12 has a length 40 (FIG. 1) extending generallybetween the third side 24 and the fourth side 26, respectively,sufficiently sized whereby the sheet of material 12 extends over asubstantial portion of the floral arrangement 32 when the sheet ofmaterial 12 has been wrapped about the floral arrangement 32 inaccordance with the present invention shown and described in detailherein.

The sheet of material may further comprise an ink, dye, and/or pigment(not shown). Such inks, dyes, and pigments are known in the art, and arecommercially available, and may be disposed upon or incorporated in thesheet of material 12 by any method described herein or known in the art.For example, the ink, dye, or pigment may form a portion of a design ordecoration on the sheet of material, such as flowers, leaves, and thelike.

The sheet of material 12 also comprises a bonding material 42. The term"bonding material" when used herein means an adhesive, preferably apressure sensitive adhesive, or a cohesive. Where the bonding materialis a cohesive, a similar cohesive material must be placed on theadjacent surface for bondingly contacting and bondingly engaging withthe cohesive material. The term "bonding material" also includesmaterials which are heat sealable and, in this instance, the adjacentportions of the material must be brought into contact and then heat mustbe applied to effect the seal. The term "bonding material" also includesmaterials which are sonic sealable and vibratory sealable. The term"bonding material" when used herein also means a heat sealing lacquerwhich may be applied to the sheet of material and, in this instance,heat, sound waves, or vibrations, also must be applied to effect thesealing.

The term "bonding material" when used herein also means any type ofmaterial or thing which can be used to effect the bonding or connectingof the two adjacent portions of the material or sheet of material toeffect the connection or bonding described herein. The term "bondingmaterial" also includes ties, labels, bands, ribbons, strings, tape,staples or combinations thereof. Some of the bonding materials wouldsecure the ends of the material while other bonding material may bindthe circumference of the wrapper. Another way to secure the wrapping isto heat seal the ends of the material to another portion of thematerial. One way to do this is to contact the ends with an iron ofsufficient heat to heat seal the material.

The term "bonding material" when used herein also means any heat orchemically shrinkable material, and static electrical or otherelectrical means, magnetic means, mechanical or barb-type fasteningmeans or clamps, curl-type characteristics of the film or materialsincorporated in the sheet of material which can cause the material totake on certain shapes, and any type of welding method which may weldportions of the sheet to itself or to the pot, or to both the sheetitself and the pot.

The bonding material 42 may comprise varying bonding characteristicswhen disposed on certain portions of the sheet of material 12. "Varyingbonding characteristics" means less adhesion or cohesion of the bondingmaterial 42, that is, less "tack" of the bonding material 42. Therefore,when the bonding material 42 is disposed on a sheet of material, thebonding material 42 may have less bonding characteristics at or near thepull tab 28.

Further, the bonding material 42 may also comprise at least one colorderived from dye, ink, and/or pigment, as previously described herein.Bonding materials as described above, are known in the art andcommercially available.

A bonding material 42 is disposed upon the sheet of material 12,preferably on a surface, that is the upper surface 14, the lowersurface, or a combination thereof. The bonding material 42, aspreviously described, is preferably a pressure sensitive adhesive. Suchuse of adhesives, and particularly pressure sensitive adhesives istaught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,638, entitled, "Method For Wrapping AnObject With A Material Having Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Thereon,"which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

"Cling Wrap or Material" when used herein means any material which iscapable of connecting to the sheet of material and/or itself uponcontacting engagement during the wrapping process and is wrappable aboutan item whereby portions of the cling material contactingly engage andconnect to other portions of the wrapping material for generallysecuring the sheet of material wrapped about at least a portion of theitem. This connecting engagement is preferably temporary in that thewrapping material may be easily removed without tearing same, i.e., thecling material "clings" to the wrapping material. which remains securelyconnected to and about the wrapped item until the wrapping material istorn therefrom.

The cling material is constructed and treated if necessary, frompolyethylene such as Cling Wrap made by Glad®, First Brands Corporation,Danbury, Connecticut. The thickness of the cling material will, in part,depend upon the thickness of the sheet of material utilized, i.e.,generally, the thicker and therefore heavier sheet of material mayrequire a thicker and therefore stronger cling material. The clingmaterial will range in thickness from less than about 0.2 mils to about10 mils, and preferably less than about 0.5 mils to about 2.5 mils andmost preferably from less than about 0.6 mils to about 2 mils. However,any thickness of cling material may be utilized in accordance with thepresent invention which permits the cling material to function asdescribed herein. It will be appreciated that the pull tab (described indetail below), the sheet of material 12, or any portion of either, maycomprise cling material.

The term "botanical item" when used herein means a natural or artificialherbaceous or woody plant, taken singly or in combination. The term"botanical item" also means any portion or portions of natural orartificial herbaceous or woody plants including stems, leaves, flowers,blossoms, buds, blooms, cones, or roots, taken singly or in combination,or in groupings of such portions such as bouquet or floralgrouping/floral arrangement.

The term "propagule" when used herein means any structure capable ofbeing propagated or acting as an agent of reproduction including seeds,shoots, stems, runners, tubers, plants, leaves, roots or spores.

The term "growing medium" when used herein means any liquid, solid orgaseous material used for plant growth or for the cultivation ofpropagules, including organic and inorganic materials such as soil,humus, perlite, vermiculite, sand, water, and including the nutrients,fertilizers or hormones or combinations thereof required by the plantsor propagules for growth.

The term "band" when used herein means any material which may be securedabout an object such as a flower pot, such bands commonly being referredto as elastic bands, rubber bands or nonelastic bands and also includesany other type of material such as an elastic or non-elastic string orelastic piece of material, nonelastic piece of material, a round pieceof material, a flat piece of material, a ribbon, a piece of paper strip,a piece of plastic strip, a piece of wire, a tie wrap or a twist tie orcombinations thereof or any other device capable of gathering the sheetof material to removably or substantially permanently form a crimpedportion and secure the crimped portion formed in the sheet of materialwhich may be secured about an object such as the flower pot. The bandalso may include a bow if desired in a particular application. Such aband may be included as a part of the pull tab (described below) or maycomprise the pull tab, however, the pull tab may not comprise a band,and the pull tab may be used without a band attached thereto as well.

The sheet of material used herein may further comprise at least onescent (not shown). Examples of scents utilized herein include (but arenot limited to) floral scents (flower blossoms, or any portion of aplant), food scents (chocolate, sugar, fruits), herb or spice scents(cinnamon), and the like. Additional examples of scents include flowers(such as roses, daisies, lilacs), plants (such as fruits, vegetables,grasses, trees), foods (for example, candies, cookies, cake), foodcondiments (such as honey, sugar, salt), herbs, spices, woods, roots,and the like, or any combination of the foregoing. Such scents are knownin the art, and are commercially available.

The scent may be disposed upon the sheet of material 12 by spraying thescent thereupon, painting the scent thereupon, brushing the scentthereupon, lacquering the scent thereupon, immersing the sheet ofmaterial in a scent-containing liquid, exposing the sheet of material toscent-containing gas, or any combination thereof.

The scent may be contained within a lacquer, or other liquid, before itis disposed upon the sheet of material 12. The scent may also becontained within a dye, ink, and/or pigment (not shown). Such dyes, inksand pigments are known in the art, and are commercially available, andmay be disposed upon or incorporated in the sheet of material 12 by anymethod described herein or known in the art.

The sheet of material 12 comprises a pull tab 28 and pull indicia 30."Pull tab" as used herein means a portion of the sheet of material 12,near the outer periphery 18 of the sheet of material, preferably near atleast one side of the sheet of material 12, wherein the sheet ofmaterial 12 may be easily grasped by an operator (between the operator'sfingers, or between the operator's thumb and at least one finger) andlifted and unwrapped from itself and the floral arrangement 32. The pulltab 28 permits at least one of the operator's fingers to be slippedunder the pull tab 28 in order to grasp the pull tabs 28 and pull oneportion of the sheet of material 12 away from at least one other portionof the sheet of material 12. The pull tab 28 may be located near anyside, or multiple pull tabs may be located near one side or multiplesides of the sheet of material 12, as long as the pull tab 28 may beeasily grasped and lifted away from the wrapped sheet of material 12,thereby causing the sheet of material 12 to unwrap from around itselfand the floral arrangement 32, thereby gently releasing the floralarrangement from the wrapping material 10.

The pull tab 28 may form a portion of the sheet of material 12, or thepull tab 28 may form a die-cut extension of the sheet of material 12.Further, the pull tab 28 may comprise an integral portion of the sheetof material 12, or may form a small second separate sheet of material 12which may be separately attached, either after the sheet of material 12has been constructed (not shown), or after the sheet of material 12 hasbeen wrapped about a floral arrangement 32 (not shown). Located at ornear the pull tab 28 is pull indicia 30. "Pull indicia" as used hereinmeans symbols, such as arrows, or a small picture of the lifted edge ofa sheet of material, or a round dot, circle, square, or the like, orprinted words, such as "pull," "pull here," "lift here," "lift torelease," "lift," or any symbol or words which would indicate that thesheet of material 12 could be unwrapped by starting at that specificpoint, or any combination of words and/or symbols.

For example, FIG. 1 shows a pull tab with the word "pull" printed in thecorner of the sheet of material 12 indicating that removal of the sheetof material 12 from the floral arrangement 32 is to be initiated at thatpoint. That is, the pull tab 28 is located in the area designated by thepull indicia 30, and the pull tab 28 may be grasped to initiate theremoval of the sheet of material 12 from the floral arrangement 32.

The pull tab 28 and/or the pull indicia 30 may be located on any portionof the sheet of material 12 having a bonding material 42 thereon (FIG.20), or, alternatively, may be located in an area without bondingmaterial 42 (FIG. 1). When the pull tab 28 is located on bondingmaterial 42, the bonding material at the location of the pull tab 28 hasless "tack" or bonding, as previously described, than the remainder ofthe bonding material 42 disposed on the sheet of material 12.

The sheet of material 12 shown in FIGS. 1-2 shows the use of a pull tab28 and pull indicia 30 near the corner junction of the first side 20 andthe third side 24 of the sheet of material 12. The bonding material 42does not extend into this junction, thereby forming a non-bonded areafor the pull tab 28. Disposed on the pull tab 28 is pull indicia 30comprising a square, with the word "Pull" printed in the square (theword "pull" appears backwards in FIG. 1, because when wrapped, the lowersurface 16, as shown in FIG. 2, would be exposed, thus exposing the pullindicia 30 "Pull" correctly).

It will be appreciated that more than one pull tab area may be disposedupon the sheet of material. Further, more than one change in bondingcharacteristics that is, the bonding or "tack" of the bonding material,as described above, may be disposed upon the sheet of material (notshown).

The Embodiment of FIG. 3

Illustrated in FIG. 3 is a modified material 10a which is constructedexactly like the material 10 shown in FIGS. 1-2, and described in detailpreviously, except that the sheet of material 12a comprises a pluralityof sheets of material 12a connected together to form a pad 44 of sheetsof material 12a. The pad 44 comprises a plurality of sheets of material12a stacked one on top of the other and positioned so that the periphery18a, that is, the first sides 20a, the second sides 22a, the third sides24a, and the fourth sides 26a of the sheets of material 12a in the pad44 generally are aligned.

Referring to FIG. 3, the pad 44 further comprises a top sheet ofmaterial 46 and a next sheet of material 48 disposed thereunder, theother sheets of material 12a being disposed under the next sheet ofmaterial 48 in the pad 44 of the sheets of material 12a. Each sheet ofmaterial 12a in the pad 44 may have a bonding material 42a (not shown)disposed thereupon, near at least a portion of the periphery 18a of eachsheet of material 12a, and each sheet of material 12a having a bondingmaterial 42a thereon is bondingly connectable to a portion of anothersheet of material 12a for cooperating to connect the sheets of material12a into the pad 44.

The top sheet of material 46 is capable of being disconnected from thepad 44 of sheets of material 12a. When the top sheet of material 46 isdisconnected, the next sheet of material 48 forms the new top sheet ofmaterial 46, and the sheet of material 12a lying under the new top sheetof material 46 forms a new next sheet of material 48.

A bonding material 42a is disposed on each sheet of material 12a in thepad 44 and bondingly and releasably connects each sheet of material 12ato one other sheet of material 12a in the pad 44 whereby one of thesheets of material 12a can be releasably disconnected from another sheetof material 12a by pulling the sheets of material 12a apart. Further,the bonding material 42a bondingly and releasably connects each sheet ofmaterial 12a to portions of itself.

The Embodiment of FIGS. 4-5

Illustrated in FIGS. 4-5 is a modified material 10b which is constructedexactly like the material 10 shown in FIGS. 1-2 and described in detailpreviously except that the material 10b comprises a roll 50 of sheets ofmaterial 12b contained within a dispenser 52, as shown in FIG. 4. Theroll 50 contains a material 10b comprising a plurality of sheets ofmaterial 12b in the roll 50, the sheets of material 12b being connectedby perforations to form the roll 50 (the sheet of material 12b shownpartially detached and turned upward for illustration purposes only).Such a roll 50 may be provided without a dispenser 52 as well, as shownin FIG. 5. Such rolls 50 permit one sheet of material 12b to bewithdrawn from the roll 50, and the sheet of material 12b is detached orsevered from the roll 50. Alternatively, the roll 50 may simply beformed as a continuous roll 50 without perforations, and the wrappingmaterial 10b may be withdrawn from the roll 50 and a portion may besevered into separate sheets of material 12b by serrated cutting edge(not shown) contained within the dispenser 52, or by a separate cuttingelement (not shown). Any number of sheets of material 12b may form theroll 50 as long as it is possible to withdraw at least one sheet ofmaterial 12b from the roll 50. It will be understood therefore that theroll 50 may comprise only one sheet of material 12b, without thedispenser 52 (not shown).

The Method Of Use of FIGS. 6-11

FIGS. 6-11 illustrate one method of use of the present invention. Thewrapping material 10a and the sheet of material 12a illustrated in thisembodiment and used in this method are constructed exactly the same asthe wrapping material 10a and the sheet of material 12a in FIG. 3 anddescribed in detail previously.

In a general method of use, a floral arrangement 32 is placed on the topsheet of material 46, the sheet of material 12a being sized to wrapabout and substantially surround and encompass the floral arrangement32. The sheet of material 12a is wrapped about the floral arrangement32, the sheet of material 12a simultaneously disconnecting from the pad44 of sheets of material 12a as the sheet of material 12a is wrappedabout the floral arrangement 32. A portion of the sheet of material 12a,such as the second side 22a of the sheet of material 12a, overlaps atleast one other portion of the sheet of material 12a. The overlappingportions of the sheet of material 12a are bonded to the sheet ofmaterial 12a by their contact with the bonding material 42a on the uppersurface 14a of the sheet of material 12a which bondingly contacts andengages the overlapped portions of the sheet of material 12a, wherebythe second side 22a of the sheet of material 12a is bonded tooverlapping portions of the sheet of material 12a generally between thethird side 24a and the fourth side 26a of the sheet of material 12awhereby there are no loose flaps formed by unbonded portions of thesheet of material 12a. The sheet of material 12a substantiallyencompasses and surrounds a substantial portion of the flower portion 34of the floral arrangement 32. The sheet of material 12a is held aboutthe floral arrangement 32 by the bonding contact of the overlappingportions of the sheet of material 12a, the sheet of material 12a beingtightly wrapped about the stem portion 36 of the floral arrangement 32.The sheet of material 12a wrapped about the floral arrangement 32 formsa cylindrically-shaped wrapping 70a (FIG. 9), or, alternatively, aconically-shaped wrapping 70c (FIG. 14), or, in further alternatives,may form any geometric, non-geometric, or asymmetrical shaped wrapping70. Both shapes of wrapping 70a and 70c shown herein have an openingextending through a lower end 54 thereof and an opening extendingthrough the upper end 56 thereof with the stem portion 36 of the floralarrangement 32 extending through the opening in the lower end 54 and theflower portion 34 of the floral arrangement 32 being exposed near theopening in the upper end 56 thereof, the upper end 56 of the wrapping70a and 70c being loosely wrapped about the flower portion 34 of thefloral arrangement 32.

FIGS. 6-11 show one specific method of use. A plurality of sheets ofmaterial 12a in a pad 44, and a floral arrangement 32, as describedabove, are provided. The floral arrangement 32 is disposed on the topsheet of material 46 on the pad 44 of sheets of material 12a. Anoperator then lifts a portion of the top sheet 46 (generally the portionnear the second side 22a) and places the lifted portion over a portionof the floral arrangement 32, as shown in FIG. 7. In this position, thetop sheet of material 46 is rolled over the floral arrangement 32, andthe top sheet of material 46 and the floral arrangement 32 are rolled ina general direction 58 (FIGS. 7-8) whereby the top sheet of material 46and the floral arrangement 32 contained therein are lifted from the nextsheet of material 48 (FIG. 9), the floral arrangement 32 being rolledinto the top sheet of material 46, thereby rolling the top sheet ofmaterial 46 generally about the floral arrangement 32 and containing andsubstantially encompassing the floral arrangement 32 within the topsheet of material 46.

The top sheet of material 46 and the floral arrangement 32 containedtherein are continued rolled in a rolling direction 60 and in thedirection 58 generally toward the first side 20a of the top sheet ofmaterial 46 until the floral arrangement 32 is disposed generallyadjacent the first side 20a of the top sheet of material 46, as shown inFIG. 8. In this position, the operator continues to roll the top sheetof material 46 and the floral arrangement 32 disposed thereon in therolling direction 60 and in the general direction 58 thereby lifting thetop sheet of material 46 from the next sheet of material 48 andreleasing the top sheet of material 46 from the bonding material 42adisposed on the next sheet of material 48, the next sheet of material 48generally beneath the top sheet of material 46 and simultaneouslydisconnecting the top sheet of material 46 from the bonding material 42aconnection between the top sheet of material 46 and the next sheet ofmaterial 48. The adjacent upper surface 14a of the second side 22a ofthe top sheet of material 46 is then bondingly connected to the bondingmaterial 42a on the upper surface 14a of the top sheet of material 46near the first side 20a, thereby securely wrapping the floralarrangement 32, as shown in FIG. 9, the method of wrapping permittingthe pull tab 28a and pull indicia 30a on the top sheet of material 46 tobe readily visible on the wrapped floral arrangement 32.

When the top sheet of material 46 has been secured about the floralarrangement 32 in the manner just described, the next sheet of material48, generally under the top sheet of material 46, then provides a newtop sheet of material 46, the sheet of material 12a under the new topsheet of material 46 providing a new next sheet of material 48, and theprocess can be repeated for wrapping additional or other floralarrangements 32.

Such a method of wrapping is shown and described in detail in U.S. Pat.No. 5,181,364, entitled, "Wrapping a Floral Grouping With Sheets HavingAdhesive Or Cohesive Material Applied Thereto," which issued Jan. 26,1993. U.S. Pat. No. 5,181,364 is specifically incorporated by referenceherein.

In the wrapped condition with the sheet of material 12 wrapped about thefloral arrangement 32, the wrapped sheet of material 12 forms a"wrapping" or "wrapper" 70a. Further, it will be understood that theterms "wrapping" and "wrapper" are used interchangeably herein. Thewrapper 70a, when formed, permits both the stem portion 36 of the floralarrangement 32 to extend through the opening in the lower end 54 of thewrapper 70a and the bloom portion 34 of the floral arrangement to extendthrough the opening in the upper end 56 of the wrapper 70a.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show a method of removing the sheet of material 12a fromthe wrapped floral arrangement 32. The pull tab 28a and pull indicia 30aare located in a position on the wrapped sheet of material 12a which iseasily visible to the operator. The operator grasps the pull tab 28abetween his fingers (or between his thumb and at least one finger, byplacing at least one finger on one surface of the pull tab 28a and atleast one other finger on one other surface of the pull tab 28a), andpulls the portion of the sheet of material 12a surrounding the pull tab28a away from the underlying portion of the sheet of material 12a thatit overlapped and was bonded to. The bonding material 42a readilyreleases the portion of the sheet of material 12a surrounding the pulltab 28a from the underlying portion of the sheet of material 12a lyingdirectly thereunder, thus permitting quick and easy removal of the sheetof material 12a from the floral arrangement 32, said removal beingaccomplished without causing damage to the delicate floral arrangement32.

The Embodiment And Method Of Use Of FIGS. 12-16

FIGS. 12-16 illustrate another embodiment and method of use of thepresent invention. The wrapping material 10c and sheet of material 12cillustrated in this embodiment and used in this method are constructedexactly the same as the wrapping material 10 and the sheet of material12 shown in FIGS. 1-2 and described in detail previously, except thatthe sheet of material 12c is not transparent, the pull indicia 30ccomprises both the word "Pull" and an arrow symbol pointing to thecorner junction of the first side 20c and the third side 24c of thesheet of material 12c, and the pull indicia 30c is printed on the lowersurface 16c of the sheet of material 12c.

A floral arrangement 32c is disposed upon the sheet of material 12c, inthe same manner shown in FIGS. 6-11 and described in detail previouslyfor the method of use of wrapping material 10a and the sheet of material12a, except that a single sheet of material 12c is utilized, and thewrapping material 10c forms generally a conical-shaped wrapper 70c. Thesheet of material 12c is unwrapped from the floral arrangement 32c inexactly the same manner as shown herein and described in detailpreviously.

The Embodiment and Method of Use of FIG. 17

FIG. 17 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. Thewrapping material 10d and sheet of material 12d illustrated in thisembodiment and used in this method are constructed exactly the same asthe wrapping material 10 and the sheet of material 12 shown in FIGS. 1-2and described in detail previously, except that the sheet of material12d has a pull indicia 30d of a circle with an arrow pointing to thecorner junction of the first side 20d and the third side 24d of thesheet of material 12d.

A floral arrangement 32d (not shown) is disposed upon the sheet ofmaterial 12d in the same manner shown in FIGS. 6-11 and described indetail previously for the method of use of wrapping material 10a and thesheet of material 12a, however, it will be appreciated that any methodof use shown or described herein may be utilized. The sheet of material12d is unwrapped from a floral arrangement 32d (not shown) in exactlythe same manner as shown herein and described in detail previously.

The Embodiment and Method of Use of FIG. 18

FIG. 18 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. Thewrapping material 10e and sheet of material 12e illustrated in thisembodiment and used in this method are constructed exactly the same asthe wrapping material 10 and the sheet of material 12 shown in FIGS. 1-2and described in detail previously, except that the sheet of material12e has a first pull tab 28e and a second pull tab 28ee, a first pullindicia 30e and a second pull indicia 30ee, the first pull indicia 30ebeing disposed near the first pull tab 28e, and the second pull indicia30ee being disposed near the second pull tab 28ee, the first pull tab28e and pull indicia 30e being located near the corner junction of thefirst side 20e and the third side 24e of the sheet of material 12e, thesecond pull tab 28ee and pull indicia 30ee being located near the cornerjunction of the first side 20e and the fourth side 26e, the first pullindicia 30e comprising a circle with an arrow pointing to the cornerjunction of the first side 20e and the third side 24e of the sheet ofmaterial 12e, the second pull indicia 30ee comprising a circle with anarrow pointing to the corner junction of the first side 20e and thefourth side 26e of the sheet of material 12e.

A floral arrangement 32e (not shown) is disposed upon the sheet ofmaterial 12e in the same manner shown in FIGS. 6-11 and described indetail previously for the method of use of wrapping material 10a and thesheet of material 12a, however, it will be appreciated that any methodof use shown or described herein may be utilized. The sheet of material12e is unwrapped from a floral arrangement 32e (not shown) in exactlythe same manner as shown herein and described in detail previously,except that either the first pull tab 28e may be used to unwrap thefloral arrangement 32e, or the second pull tab 28ee may be used, or boththe first pull tab 28e and the second pull tab 28ee may be utilized toremove the sheet of material 12e from the floral arrangement 32e, ineither a concurrent or sequential manner.

The Embodiment and Method of Use of FIG. 19

FIG. 19 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. Thewrapping material 10f and sheet of material 12f illustrated in thisembodiment and used in this method are constructed exactly the same asthe wrapping material 10 and the sheet of material 12 shown in FIGS. 1-2and described in detail previously, except that the sheet of material12f has a bonding material 42f strip which extends near the entirelength of the first side 20f, that is, from the third side 24f to thefourth side 26f, the pull tab 28f and pull indicia 30f being disposed oneither side of the bonding material 42f strip and near the third side24f, with the pull indicia 30f "Pull" on one side of the bondingmaterial 42f, and the pull indicia 30f symbol of an arrow disposed onthe other side of the bonding material 42f, that is, near to andpointing to the corner junction of the first side 20f and the third side24f of the sheet of material 12f.

A floral arrangement 32f (not shown) is disposed upon the sheet ofmaterial 12f in the same manner shown in FIGS. 6-11 and described indetail previously for the method of use of wrapping material 10a and thesheet of material 12a, however, it will be appreciated that any methodof use shown or described herein may be utilized. The sheet of material12f is unwrapped from a floral arrangement 32f (not shown) in exactlythe same manner as shown herein and described in detail previously.

The Embodiment and Method of Use of FIG. 20

FIG. 20 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. Thewrapping material 10g and sheet of material 12g illustrated in thisembodiment and used in this method are constructed exactly the same asthe wrapping material 10 and the sheet of material 12 shown in FIGS. 1-2and described in detail previously, except that the sheet of material12g has a bonding material 42g strip which extends the entire length ofthe sheet of material 12g near the first side 20g, from the third side24g to the fourth side 26g, the pull tab 28g and pull indicia 30g beingnear the end of the bonding material 42g strip, that is, near the thirdside 24g of the sheet of material 12g and near the corner junction ofthe first side 20g and the third side 24g of the sheet of material 12g,the bonding characteristics or "tack" of the bonding material 42g beingdecreased, as described previously, at the site of the pull tab 28g andpull indicia 30g to enhance an operator's ability to grasp the pull tab28g and remove the sheet of material 12g from a floral arrangement 32g.

A floral arrangement 32g (not shown) is disposed upon the sheet ofmaterial 12g in the same manner shown in FIGS. 6-11 and described indetail previously for the method of use of wrapping material 10a and thesheet of material 12a, however, it will be appreciated that any methodof use shown or described herein may be utilized. The sheet of material12g is unwrapped from a floral arrangement 32g (not shown) in exactlythe same manner as shown herein and described in detail previously,except that, in a further alternative, the sheet of material 12g may beremoved from the floral arrangement 32g by the operator first insertinga finger (or fingers) under the pull tab 28g on the outer wrapped layerof the sheet of material 12g at the point indicated by the pull indicia30g to grasp the pull tab 28g for removal of the sheet of material 12g.

The Embodiment and Method of Use of FIG. 21

FIG. 21 illustrates still another embodiment of the present invention.The wrapping material 10h and sheet of material 12h illustrated in thisembodiment and used in this method are constructed exactly the same asthe wrapping material 10 and the sheet of material 12 shown in FIGS. 1-2and described in detail previously, except that the sheet of material12h is die-cut into a trapezoidal shape and has a scalloped design cutinto the third side 24h of the sheet of material 12h, the bondingmaterial 42h is a strip of bonding material 42h which is disposedgenerally between the first side 20h and the second side 22h of thesheet of material 12h, the bonding material 42h disposed near the fourthside 26h, and the pull tab 28h has been die-cut as an extension of thesheet of material 12h, and the pull tab 28h has pull indicia 30hrepresented as an arrow thereon. The pull tab 28h is situated slightlyabove the bonding material 42h, on the first side of the sheet ofmaterial 12h and near the corner junction of the first side 20h and thefourth side 26h of the sheet of material 12h.

A floral arrangement 32h (not shown) is disposed upon the sheet ofmaterial 12h in the same manner shown in FIGS. 6-11 and described indetail previously for the method of use of wrapping material 10a and thesheet of material 12a, however, it will be appreciated that any methodof use shown or described herein may be utilized. The sheet of material12h is unwrapped from a floral arrangement 32h in exactly the samemanner as shown herein and described in detail previously.

The Embodiment and Method of Use of FIGS. 22-25

FIGS. 22-25 illustrate still another embodiment of the present inventionand method of use of the present invention. The wrapping material 10iand sheet of material 12i illustrated in this embodiment and used inthis method are constructed exactly the same as the wrapping material10h and the sheet of material 12h shown in FIG. 21 (wrapping material10h and sheet of material 12h being exactly like FIGS. 1-2 and describedin detail previously, except for the differences described above) exceptthat, as shown in FIG. 22, the pull tab 28i is die-cut adjacent thebonding material strip 42i, the pull tab 28i being located on the firstside 20i of the sheet of material 12i and in the corner junction of thefirst side 20i and the fourth side 26i of the sheet of material 12i.

A floral arrangement 32i is disposed upon the sheet of material 12i inthe same manner shown in FIGS. 6-11 and described in detail previouslyfor the method of use of wrapping material 10a and the sheet of material12a, however, it will be appreciated that any method of use shown ordescribed herein may be utilized (FIG. 23). The sheet of material 12i isunwrapped from a floral arrangement 32i in exactly the same manner asshown herein and described in detail previously, as shown in FIGS.24-25.

The Embodiment and Method of Use of FIGS. 26-29

FIGS. 26-29 illustrate still another embodiment of the present inventionand method of use of the present invention. The wrapping material 10jand sheet of material 12j illustrated in this embodiment and used inthis method are constructed exactly the same as the wrapping material10h and the sheet of material 12h shown in FIG. 21 (wrapping material10h and sheet of material 12h being exactly like FIGS. 1-2 and describedin detail previously, except for the differences described above).

A floral arrangement 32j is disposed upon the sheet of material 12j inthe same manner shown in FIGS. 6-11 and described in detail previouslyfor the method of use of wrapping material 10a and the sheet of material12a, however, it will be appreciated that any method of use shown ordescribed herein may be utilized. The method for wrapping the floralarrangement 32j with the sheet of material 12j differs somewhat from thepreviously described methods, in that the sheet of material 12j iscrimped about the stem portion 36j of the floral arrangement 32j nearthe fourth side 26j of the sheet of material 12j, that is, in and aroundthe area where the bonding material 42j is disposed. The crimping may beconducted as the floral arrangement 32j is wrapped (not shown), or thecrimping may be conducted after the floral arrangement 32j is wrapped bycrimping the sheet of material 12j in the area of the strip of bondingmaterial 42j. Such crimping may be conducted by hand, by grasping andsubstantially encompassing with one or more hands the lower end of thewrapper 70j near the fourth side 26j of the sheet of material 12j, inthe area of the strip of bonding material 42j, and evenly and firmlysqueezing the sheet of material 12j about the area of the strip of stripof bonding material 42j, near the fourth side 26j of the material 12j,thereby pressing and gathering both the sheet of material 12j near thefourth side 26j against itself and against the stem portion 36j of thefloral arrangement 32j and the bonding material 42j against itself andagainst the stem portion 36j of the floral arrangement 32j. The wrapper70j may also be crimped by using both a crimping motion and a turningmotion to create a twisted crimping, as illustrated in FIG. 28,resulting in a wrapper 70j which is both crimped, as describedpreviously, and which is twisted about the stem portion 36j (the sheetof material 12j near the stem portion 36j being rotated between aboutone-eighth of a turn to about a full turn) primarily in the area nearthe stem portion 36j of the floral arrangement 32j. Such crimping asdescribed above may also be conducted by any instrument or machine usedfor gathering or crimping packaging materials.

The pull tab 28j may extend over the crimped area, as shown in FIG. 27to permit easy removal of the sheet of material 12j. Alternatively, thepull tab 28j may be at least partially tucked into the wrapper byfolding the pull tab 28j toward the inside of the wrapper 70j (notshown) after the floral arrangement 32j has been wrapped and formed intoa wrapper.

The sheet of material 12j is unwrapped from a floral arrangement 32i, asshown in FIG. 29, in exactly the same manner as shown herein anddescribed in detail previously.

The Embodiment and Method of Use of FIGS. 30-32

FIGS. 30-32 illustrate still another embodiment of the present inventionand method of use of the present invention. The wrapping material 10kand sheet of material 12k illustrated in this embodiment and used inthis method are constructed exactly the same as the wrapping material10h and the sheet of material 12h shown in FIG. 21 (wrapping material10h and sheet of material 12h being exactly like FIGS. 1-2 and describedin detail previously, except for the differences described above).

A floral arrangement 32k is disposed upon the sheet of material 12k inthe same manner shown in FIGS. 6-11 and described in detail previouslyfor the method of use of wrapping material 10a and the sheet of material12a, however, it will be appreciated that any method of use shown ordescribed herein may be utilized. The method for wrapping the floralarrangement 32k with the sheet of material 12k, as shown in FIGS. 31 and32, differs somewhat from the previously described methods, in that thesheet of material 12k is crimped in a manner described in detail andshown previously in FIGS. 26-29, the only difference being that the pulltab 28k has a bonding material 42k at least partially disposed thereon,and the pull tab 28k is wrapped about the crimped portion of the wrapper70k after the sheet of material 12k has been crimped, thereby furthercrimping the sheet of material 12k and restricting and retaining thesheet of material 12k in a crimped condition.

The wrapper 70k is caused to be more tightly wrapped about the floralarrangement 32k by grasping the pull tab 28k and pulling the pull tab28k in a direction (now shown) about the lower end of the wrapper 70k.Once the pull tab 28k has been wrapped tightly about lower end of thewrapper 70k, the portion of the pull tab 28k having the bonding material42k applied thereto is engagingly pressed against the wrapper 70k toaffix the pull tab 28k to the wrapper 70k thereby causing the lower endof the wrapper 70k to be crimpingly wrapped about the stem portion 36kof the floral arrangement 32k for inhibiting the floral arrangement 32kfrom slipping or moving within the wrapper 70k.

In an alternative method (not shown), the pull tab 28k is elongated, andmay have only a single spot of bonding material 42k thereon, and wrapscompletely around the wrapper 70k, the spot of bonding material 42k usedto attach the pull tab 28k to itself after it is wrapped completelyaround the wrapper 70k. The pull tab 28k may be wrapped about thealready crimped wrapper 70k, or, alternatively, the pull tab 28k may beutilized to both crimp the wrapper 70k in a crimped condition, asdescribed above, as well as retain the wrapper 70k in a crimpedcondition.

In a further alternative method (not shown), the sheet of material 12kmay have a bonding material 42k on the lower surface 16k, and the pulltab 28k may have no bonding material 42k thereon. The sheet of material12k will then be crimped by any method previously described herein, andthe pull tab 28k will extend about the crimped bonding material and willbond thereto, thereby retaining the wrapper 70k in a crimped condition.

The sheet of material 12k is unwrapped from a floral arrangement 32k inexactly the same manner as shown herein and described in detailpreviously.

Changes may be made in the embodiments of the invention describedherein, or in parts or elements of the embodiments described herein, orin the sequence of steps of the methods described herein, withoutdeparting from the spirit and/or scope of the invention as defined inthe following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for wrapping a floral arrangement,comprising:providing a floral arrangement; providing a sheet of materialhaving:an upper surface, a lower surface, a first connecting meansdisposed on a portion of the sheet of material for connecting portionsof the sheet of material to itself during the wrapping step, the firstconnecting means positioned such that portions of the sheet of materialadjacent the floral arrangement can be connected together about thefloral arrangement; a second connecting means for further crimpinglyconnecting portions of the sheet of material about the floralarrangement, the second connecting means comprising a pull tab attachedto the sheet of material, the pull tab having a bonding materialdisposed on a portion thereof, the pull tab acting both to crimpinglyconnect portions of the sheet of material about the floral arrangementand to retain the sheet of material in a crimped condition about thefloral arrangement; placing the floral arrangement on the sheet ofmaterial; wrapping the sheet of material about the floral arrangementcausing a portion of the sheet of material near the first connectingmeans to overlap another portion of the sheet of material resulting inoverlapping portions; bonding the overlapping portions of the sheet ofmaterial by contacting and connecting the first connecting means toadjacent overlapping portions of the sheet of material whereby theoverlapping portions of the sheet of material are bonded together, thesheet of material encompassing and surrounding at least a portion of thefloral arrangement thereby forming a wrapper about the floralarrangement; and binding the wrapper to the floral arrangement bycrimping portions of the wrapper together by wrapping the secondconnecting means comprising the pull tab about the wrapper andconnecting the pull tab to the wrapper via the bonding material on thepull tab, the pull tab both crimpingly connecting the portions of thewrapper about the floral arrangement and retaining the wrapper in acrimped condition, the second connecting means thereby firmly bindingthe wrapper to the floral arrangement.
 2. The method of claim 1 whereinin the step of providing a sheet of material the step further comprisesproviding a pad of sheets of material, the pad having a top sheet ofmaterial and wherein the first connecting means of each sheet ofmaterial is bondingly connected to a portion of an adjacent sheet ofmaterial for cooperating to connect the sheets of material into the pad.3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step further comprises the firstconnecting means on each sheet of material releasably connecting eachsheet of material to one other sheet of material whereby one of thesheets of material can be releasably disconnected from another sheet ofmaterial by pulling the sheets of material apart.
 4. The method of claim2 wherein in the step of wrapping the top sheet of material about thefloral arrangement the step further comprises:placing a portion of thetop sheet of material over at least a portion of the floral arrangementand rolling the top sheet of material and the floral arrangement andwrapping the top sheet of material about the floral arrangement, theconnecting means on the top sheet of material being bondingly connectedto another portion of the top sheet of material for securing the topsheet of material in a wrapped position about the floral arrangement andthe top sheet of material being removed from the pad of sheets ofmaterial as the top sheet of material is wrapped about the floralarrangement.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein in the step of providing asheet of material, the sheet of material further comprises a first side,a second side, a third side and a fourth side and the connecting meansis on the upper surface of each sheet of material near one side of thesheet of material and extending a distance therefrom to the other side,and wherein in the step of wrapping the top sheet of material about thefloral arrangement, the step further comprises:placing a portion of thetop sheet of material near the first side thereof over a portion of thefloral arrangement and rolling the top sheet of material and the floralarrangement until the top sheet of material is rolled about the floralarrangement, the connecting means on the top sheet of material bindinglyconnected to a portion of the top sheet of material as the top sheet ofmaterial and the floral arrangement is rolled over the first connectingmeans and the top sheet of material being disconnected from the pad asthe top sheet of material and floral arrangement are rolled over the padwhereby the top sheet of material is lifted from the pad and the bondingconnection between the top sheet of material and a next sheet ofmaterial is disconnected.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein in the stepof wrapping the top sheet of material about the floral arrangement anddisconnecting the top sheet of material from the pad the step furthercomprises leaving the next sheet of material to form a new top sheet ofmaterial, andwherein the steps of placing the floral arrangement on thetop sheet of material, and wrapping the top sheet of material about thefloral arrangement are repeated with other floral arrangements untilsubstantially all of the sheets of material in the pad have been wrappedabout the floral arrangements.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein in thestep of providing a sheet of material, the sheet of material is definedas constructed from a material selected from the group of materialsconsisting of paper (treated or untreated), cellophane, foil, polymerfilm, fabric (natural or synthetic, woven or unwoven), or burlap orcombinations thereof.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein in the step ofproviding a sheet of material, the sheet of material is further definedas having a thickness in a range from less than about 1 mil to about 30mils.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein in the step of providing thesheet of material having a first connecting means, he first connectingmeans further comprises a bonding material selected from the groupconsisting of a pressure sensitive adhesive or cohesive, a heatsensitive adhesive or cohesive, a sonically sealable adhesive orcohesive, a vibratingly sealing adhesive or cohesive, or a chemicallysealing adhesive or cohesive.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein in thestep of providing a sheet of material, the sheet of material furthercomprises a pull tab formed integrally with the sheet of material. 11.The method of claim 1 wherein in the step of providing a sheet ofmaterial, the sheet of material further comprises a pull tab formed froma separate sheet of material.
 12. A method for wrapping a floralarrangement, comprising:providing a floral arrangement having a flowerportion and a stem portion; providing a sheet of material having:anupper surface, a lower surface, a first connecting means disposed on aportion of the sheet of material for connecting portions of the sheet ofmaterial to itself during the wrapping step, the first connecting meanspositioned such that portions of the sheet of material adjacent thefloral arrangement can be connected together about a portion of thefloral arrangement; a second connecting means comprising a pull tabattached to the sheet of material for crimpingly connecting portions ofthe sheet of material to itself during the wrapping step, the secondconnecting means enabling portions of the sheet of material adjacent thefloral arrangement to be crimpingly connected about a portion of thefloral arrangement and retaining the sheet of material adjacent theportion of the floral arrangement in a crimped condition; placing thefloral arrangement on the sheet of material; wrapping the sheet ofmaterial about the floral arrangement causing a portion of the sheet ofmaterial near the first connecting means to overlap another portion ofthe sheet of material resulting in overlapping portions; bonding theoverlapping portions of the sheet of material by contacting andconnecting the first connecting means to adjacent overlapping portionsof the sheet of material whereby the overlapping portions of the sheetof material are bonded together, the sheet of material encompassing andsurrounding at least a portion of the stem portion of the floralarrangement thereby forming a wrapper about the floral arrangement; andbinding the wrapper to the floral arrangement by crimping portions ofthe wrapper together by wrapping the second connecting means comprisingthe pull tab about the wrapper and about said portion of the floralarrangement and connecting the pull tab to the wrapper via the bondingmaterial on the pull tab, the pull tab both crimpingly connecting saidportion of the wrapper about the floral arrangement and retaining thewrapper in a crimped condition, the second connecting means therebyfirmly binding the wrapper to the floral arrangement.
 13. The method ofclaim 12 wherein in the step of providing a sheet of material, the stepfurther comprises providing a pad of sheets of material, the pad havinga top sheet of material and wherein the first connecting means of eachsheet of material is bondingly connected to a portion of an adjacentsheet of material for cooperating to connect the sheets of material intothe pad.
 14. The method of claim 14 wherein in the step of providing asheet of material, the first connecting means on each sheet of materialis further defined as releasably connecting each sheet of material toone other sheet of material whereby one of the sheets of material can bereleasably disconnected from another sheet of material by pulling thesheets of material apart.
 15. The method of claim 13 wherein in the stepof wrapping the top sheet of material about the floral arrangement, thestep further comprises:placing a portion of the top sheet of materialover at least a portion of the floral arrangement and rolling the topsheet of material and the floral arrangement and wrapping the top sheetof material about the floral arrangement, the connecting means on thetop sheet of material being bondingly connected to another portion ofthe top sheet of material for securing the top sheet of material in awrapped position about the floral arrangement and the top sheet ofmaterial being removed from the pad of sheets of material as the topsheet of material is wrapped about the floral arrangement.
 16. Themethod of claim 15 wherein in the step of providing a sheet of material,the sheet of material further comprises a first side, a second side, athird side and a fourth side and the connecting means is on the uppersurface of each sheet of material near one side of the sheet of materialand extending a distance therefrom to the other side, and wherein in thestep of wrapping the top sheet of material about the floral arrangement,the step further comprises:placing a portion of the top sheet ofmaterial near the first side thereof over a portion of the floralarrangement and rolling the top sheet of material and the floralarrangement until the top sheet of material is rolled about the floralarrangement, the connecting means on the top sheet of material bindinglyconnected to a portion of the top sheet of material as the top sheet ofmaterial and the floral arrangement is rolled over the first connectingmeans and the top sheet of material being disconnected from the pad asthe top sheet of material and floral arrangement are rolled over the padwhereby the top sheet of material is lifted from the pad and the bondingconnection between the top sheet of material and a next sheet ofmaterial is disconnected.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the stepfurther comprises, after wrapping the top sheet of material about thefloral arrangement and disconnecting the top sheet of material from thepad, leaving the next sheet of material to form a new top sheet ofmaterial, andwherein the steps of placing the floral arrangement on thetop sheet of material, and wrapping the top sheet of material about thefloral arrangement are repeated with other floral arrangements untilsubstantially all of the sheets of material in the pad have been wrappedabout the floral arrangements.
 18. The method of claim 12 wherein in thestep of providing a sheet of material, the sheet of material is furtherdefined as constructed from a material selected from the group ofmaterials consisting of paper (treated or untreated), cellophane, foil,polymer film, fabric (natural or synthetic, woven or unwoven), or burlapor combinations thereof.
 19. The method of claim 12 wherein in the stepof providing a sheet of material, the sheet of material is furtherdefined as having a thickness in a range from less than about 1 mil toabout 30 mils.
 20. The method of claim 12 wherein in the step ofproviding the sheet of material having a first connecting means, thefirst connecting means further comprises a bonding material selectedfrom the group consisting of a pressure sensitive adhesive or cohesive,a heat sensitive adhesive or cohesive, a sonically sealable adhesive orcohesive, a vibratingly sealing adhesive or cohesive, or a chemicallysealing adhesive or cohesive.
 21. The method of claim 12 wherein in thestep of providing the sheet of material, the sheet of material furthercomprises a pull tab having a bonding material disposed on a portionthereof.
 22. The method of claim 12 wherein in the step of providing asheet of material, the sheet of material further comprises a pull tabformed integrally with the sheet of material.
 23. The method of claim 12wherein in the step of providing a sheet of material, the sheet ofmaterial further comprises a pull tab formed from a separate sheet ofmaterial.